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lynneelue 's review for:
War and Peace
by Leo Tolstoy
I liked War and Peace, but like all very long books, there were certain parts that were very boring (primarily the second epilogue). I recognize this is a book that I could read many times and each time get more out of it, and to me that 19s one sign of a worthy classic. I was amazed this book covered the time from 1804 13 1812 (and then 7 years after that). I got to know characters and saw them grow up, making poor and mature decisions. I saw character threads come together and separate. I saw passion in battle and in love 14romantic and familial/friendly 14and I saw characters come to revelations more than once each. I liked the Russian spirit throughout the novel, coming even from the narration so that I as a reader was rooting for the Russian side and viewing the enemy (French) as the Russians might. The war parts were just as interesting as the peace parts, and often the philosophical parts added to the story 14the causes for war are not simple or singular, and history is therefore complicated. So many aspects of this story make it great and whole, and it was a very well-written, not overly complex and yet overall dense, exciting novel. I liked that this is the form that Tolstoy felt he could write within, and I liked learning about the Napoleonic war and Russian culture.
Some really great moments (in no particular order):
22 Prince Andrei, almost dead, lying on the battlefield and looking up at the sky. Nothing quite mattered to him then as it had before. His hero, Napoleon, insignificant, thoughts about the battle, nothing as vast as the blue sky above.
22 Nikolai on his first day of battle, realizing how terrifying fighting was, that it 19s more than just about glory. He tries to run away like a coward, and then later tells the story of the battle as much more glorified than it actually was. He recognizes this exaggeration is what all war stories must be like.
22 Pierre and Prince Andrei talking about their views of life as opposite to each other 19s. Pierre lived for himself at first but found salvation in self-sacrifice and love of one 19s neighbour; Prince Andrei had lived for glory, for approval from others and grew much calmer once he started living for himself.
22 Prince Andrei passing a dead oak tree on his way to visiting the Rostovs; after returning (having met Natasha, whose thrill for the beauty of night strikes him), he passes the same oak and it is full of life, and he feels renewed with life, that perhaps his life doesn 19t have to be solitary.
22 Napoleon getting ready in the morning, meeting Balashov to discuss negotiations between Alexander I and Napoleon. Russian-biased version of Napoleon 19s behaviour and pompousness, a little grotesque, arrogant, thinks himself humorous, assumes he knows other 19s thoughts (Balashov of course likes to ride horses and travel, when really Balashov has never ridden a horse)
22 Kutuzov being a great commander in chief and never being recognized for it. He bases commands on army spirit, rather than believing his commands infallible, like Napoleon. He believes in patience and time.
22 Natasha writing a letter to Prince Andrei cutting off their engagement, like weeks before the yearlong engagement was up. Anatole Kuragin stealing off into the night to 1Celope 1D with Natasha
22 Pierre 19s proposal to Helene Kuragin, so fake, he felt so trapped and led into the moment and believing that he loved her
22 Sonya 19s undying love for Nikolai and it just being so heartbreaking watching her do nothing with her life
22 Tikhon and his canons, naming them
22 Denisov 19s dialogue, not using 1Cr 1D 19s
22 Prince Andrei and Natasha meeting again on their way out of Moscow, Natasha taking care of him, him smiling at her
22 Nikolai Andreevich Bolkonsky on his death bed, saying nice things about Marya finally, his face softened
22 The fakeness and shallowness of the Mason religion Pierre got into
22 All of Book 9, the Battle of Borodino
22 Pierre standing in line as other captives (fire 1Cbrigands 1D) in front of him are shot one by one
22 Princess Marya finally meeting someone (Nikolai) who sees her as more than just plain, giving her the opportunity to finally have a life for herself with a possible mate. Nikolai sees her beautiful, deeply expressive eyes
Some really great moments (in no particular order):
22 Prince Andrei, almost dead, lying on the battlefield and looking up at the sky. Nothing quite mattered to him then as it had before. His hero, Napoleon, insignificant, thoughts about the battle, nothing as vast as the blue sky above.
22 Nikolai on his first day of battle, realizing how terrifying fighting was, that it 19s more than just about glory. He tries to run away like a coward, and then later tells the story of the battle as much more glorified than it actually was. He recognizes this exaggeration is what all war stories must be like.
22 Pierre and Prince Andrei talking about their views of life as opposite to each other 19s. Pierre lived for himself at first but found salvation in self-sacrifice and love of one 19s neighbour; Prince Andrei had lived for glory, for approval from others and grew much calmer once he started living for himself.
22 Prince Andrei passing a dead oak tree on his way to visiting the Rostovs; after returning (having met Natasha, whose thrill for the beauty of night strikes him), he passes the same oak and it is full of life, and he feels renewed with life, that perhaps his life doesn 19t have to be solitary.
22 Napoleon getting ready in the morning, meeting Balashov to discuss negotiations between Alexander I and Napoleon. Russian-biased version of Napoleon 19s behaviour and pompousness, a little grotesque, arrogant, thinks himself humorous, assumes he knows other 19s thoughts (Balashov of course likes to ride horses and travel, when really Balashov has never ridden a horse)
22 Kutuzov being a great commander in chief and never being recognized for it. He bases commands on army spirit, rather than believing his commands infallible, like Napoleon. He believes in patience and time.
22 Natasha writing a letter to Prince Andrei cutting off their engagement, like weeks before the yearlong engagement was up. Anatole Kuragin stealing off into the night to 1Celope 1D with Natasha
22 Pierre 19s proposal to Helene Kuragin, so fake, he felt so trapped and led into the moment and believing that he loved her
22 Sonya 19s undying love for Nikolai and it just being so heartbreaking watching her do nothing with her life
22 Tikhon and his canons, naming them
22 Denisov 19s dialogue, not using 1Cr 1D 19s
22 Prince Andrei and Natasha meeting again on their way out of Moscow, Natasha taking care of him, him smiling at her
22 Nikolai Andreevich Bolkonsky on his death bed, saying nice things about Marya finally, his face softened
22 The fakeness and shallowness of the Mason religion Pierre got into
22 All of Book 9, the Battle of Borodino
22 Pierre standing in line as other captives (fire 1Cbrigands 1D) in front of him are shot one by one
22 Princess Marya finally meeting someone (Nikolai) who sees her as more than just plain, giving her the opportunity to finally have a life for herself with a possible mate. Nikolai sees her beautiful, deeply expressive eyes